Temperature control apparatus



. J ucma/ Feb. 24, 1942. H. 'r. KUCERA 72,274,371

TEMPERATURE CONTROL APPARATUS F1106 larch so, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 3 f a wfl A Feb. 24, 1942'. H. T. KUCERA 2,274,371

TEMPERATURE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Mafch so, 1938 7 Sheets-Shet 2 //v VE/Y 70R: WW jJz zacaw wwzh wwhw h.

I942. H. 'r. KUCERA 2,274,371

TEMPERATURE CONTROL APPARATUS I I figa. 195 I I I l -|l I57 7 I zzz as //V VE N TOR 1942- H. 1'. KUCERA TEIPERATURE COk'I'ROL APPARATUS Filed larch 30. 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 7% r Arrys.

Feb. 24, 1942. H. 'r. KUCERA TEMPERATURE con'rnon APPARATUS 7 Filed March so, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 //vv/v TOR Feb. 24, 1942. H. 1'. KucE A I TEMPERATURE oomnon APPARATUS Filed March 30, 1938 7 Sheets-Shet 6 I/NVENTOR:

Feb. 24, 1942. H. 1:. KUCERA 3 274,371

TEMPERATURE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed March :so, 1938 7 sheets-sheet 7 Patented Feb. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,214,311 TEMPERATURE com'aor. arraaarus Henry T. Kucera, Oak Park, m.

Al l ication M :0, 193:, Serial No. 198,823

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absence of sun or wind or other general conditions aiIecting the heat requirements of the premises.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus for controlling the supply of heat in accordance with the-temperature and building occupancy and for varying the schedule of heating according to the temperature.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus for controlling the supply of heat in which use is made of a plurality of control devices, one of which devices schedules the rate or heating according to the thermal requirements and characteristics, and another of which regulates the rate of heat supply during ,a portion of .the schedule.

. A further object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus for controlling the supply ojf heat in accordance with variations in temperature and the thermal requirements and characteristics of the region to be heated, in which use is made of a plurality of devires, one of which devices will cause comparatively frequent increases and decreases in the heat sup ly during the period in which it is in control. This frequent increase and decrease in heat supply has a special advantage in connection with steam heating systems,'in that it tends to prevent water hammer from occurring in the system; produces a,rapid, even steam distribution in the system, and provides a practically continuous modulated transfer of heat from the heat transfer devices tothe premises heated.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus for controlling the supply of heat in accordance with temperature and the thermal requirements and characteristics of the region to be heated, in which use is made of a plurality of control devices for controlling the increase and decrease in heat supply, with means for transferring the control irom one device to the other, and otmeans ior varying the action of one devicewith respect to the other.

a method of heat regulation, in which the time of starting of the heating system in the morning is automatically regulated; also the duration oi the heating-up period, the time of regulated heating for the day-time period,

and the time of shutting oil the heating system at night in accordance with weather conditions.

A further object of my invention is to provide a method of heat regulation in which the time of starting of the heating system on one morning of the week may be automatically varied from the time of starting on other mornings of the week with the time of starting and the period of extra heating varying with the weather conditions and further varying the time of reducing the rate of heating one day of the week from the time of reducing on other days of the week with the time of reduction varying with the weather conditions.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved variable speed transmission device for use in. connection with the rotatable disc which controls the supply of heat.

A further object of my invention is to provide animproved construction of a rotatable disc for controlling the supply of heat.

Further objects and advantages of the in vention will be apparent from the description and claims.

In the drawings, in which an embodiment of my invention is shown:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of apparatus embodying my invention; g I

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of F sc.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the broken line H of Fig. -1;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the horizontal line H of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig..4 showing the transmission for the control di r line 1-1 of Fig. 5 showing part-of the. variable speed transmission;

Fig. 8 is a rear elevatlonal view of the apparatus;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the casing or base;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the program disc;

Fig. his plan view of the program disc with A further object of my invention is to provide par s removed;

. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view on the Fig. 12 is a plan view of the day-on contact sector of the program disc;

Fig. 131s a plan view of the night-off" contact sector of the program disc;

Fig. 14 is a section substantially on the line "-44 of Fig. 11; I

Fig. 15 is a section substantially on the line i-I5 of Fig.

Fig. 16 is a rear view of the program disc;

Fig. 17 is a wiring diagram for the apparatus;

Fi 18 is a side elevational view of the control cam;

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the control cam; and

Fig. 20 shows a wiring diagram including a weekly program disc.

Referring to the drawings in detail. the apparatus shown comprises motor circuits I, 2, and I (Fig. 17) for controlling the heat supply to a region to be heated, a relay 4 for controlling said motor circuits, a transformer 5 for reducing the voltage from the line to a voltage suitable for the relay, a pilot light 8 in parallel with the relay circuit, a time-controlled motor I which may be a synchronous motor connected with an alternating current line, a program circuit-controlling disc driven from said time-controlled motor for controlling the relay 4 in accordance with the daily demands on the heating system, a cycle circuit-controlling disc 0 also driven from a time-controlled motor for effecting frequent periodic changes in the relay circuit to effect frequent changes in the heat supply, varrelay coil II, contacts 8. and 2!. and conductors 2', II, and II to the other terminal I of the transformer I.

Control by program disc and cycle disc with. switch in "program" position when the switch is in the program position, the switch contact ll is electrically connected with the switch contact 20a which is electrically connected with the shiftable program disc en- 8 -8 8 contact ll through the conductor Ila. In

iable speed ton ll (Figs. 6 and 7) between the time-controlled motor I and the cycle disc 9 for controlling the frequency of the changes in heat supply, a switch II for controlling the circuits to the program disc 8 and cycle disc 9, and means I! controllable by weather conditions and also controllable manually for controlling the pomtion of the contacts, I! and Il which engage the surfaces of the program disc and cycle disc, respectively.

I will now describe the various circuits made effective as the switch I l is turned to its diiferent positions (on, program, cycle, and "011) andastheprogramdisclandcycledisclare rotated by the time-controlled motor I.

Switch in "07! position When the switch is in f position, in which the contact II is electrically connected with the contact I! (Fig. 17), the relay 4 willbe permanently energized to maintain the heat on constantly, regardless of the action of the program discflandcycledisc 9. Withtheswitchinthis position, the circuit is from the transformer secondary terminal l1, through the conductor IO. resistor l9, relay coil ll conductor 2|, switch contacts I! and I, and conductors 22 and 23' backtotheothertransformerterminslfl.

fromtheconductorllthroughtheresbtorll.

the program disc, the eiiective heating-up" contact surface (indicated by the arc Ila in Fig. 1'1) is always electrically connected with an annular contact member 32 in engagement with the wiper contact 33. The eiiective day-on" contact area (indicated by the arc N) is always electrically connected with an annular conductor 35 engaged by the contact wiper It. The eil'ective night-oil" contact area of the program disc (indicated by the arc I1) is always electrically connected with a conductor ring ll engaged by the contact wiper I! as the program disc rotates. With this construction, when the wiper contact II is in engagement with the heating-up" contact area Ila, the circuit will be from the heating-up" contact area Ila to the annular conductor 3!, and thence through the wiper contact I! and conductors ll and- 2! to the transformer terminal 24. Thus, so long as the wiper contact is in engag ment with the heating-up" contact area, the heat will be maintained on and will not be ail'ected by the rotation of the cycle disc I.

When the program disc has moved to bring the "day-on" contact area I4 into engagement with the wiper contact II, the circuit from the day-on contact area will be from this "dayon contact area 34 to the annular conductor ll through the day-on" wiper contact 30. through the conductors II and 42 to the wiper contact II for the cycle disc I. This cycle disc comprises two contact areas 43 and 44 mounted onanlnsulatingdiscllandspacediromeach other to provide insulation therebetween. One of these contact areas 43, which may be termed the inner contact area, comprises a central hub portionflbyawiper contact 41 and between the outwardly-extending arms 48 of the inner contact surface. With this construction.

anarmfloftheinnercontactsurface encontact'll, the circuit from'the cycle from inner contact surface through the wipercontact ctorsllandfltothetransformer the cycle disc I inits movethe hub portion ll of the terminal 24 of the transformer.

the cycle disc 9 moves to shift the engagement of the wiper contact [4 from the inner to the I outer contact surfaces 43 and 44, respectively, I

and'vice versa. Thus, during the,day-on" period of the program disc, the cycle disc is in control and the heat is turned on and on periodically by successive engagement of the wiper contact H with the arms of the inner and outer contact surfaces 43 and 44, respectively, of the cycle disc.

When the program disc in its movement brings the night-01f" contact sector 31 into engagement with the wiper contact l3, the circuit from the night-off" contact area 31 is through the wiper contact 39 and conductors 64 and 52 to the wiring terminal 53 of the relay. This short-circuits the coil 26 ot the relay and allows the relay contact 26 to move to "off" position, in which position it remains until the "heatingup" contact sector 3la is brought into engagement with the wiper contact l3.

. Switch in cycle position When the switch is turned to the cycle position, the contact I is eletrically connected with the contact 55 and the circuit for the relay 4 is from the transformer terminal Il through the conductor 18, resistor l9, relay coil 20, conductor 2|, switch II, and conductor 42 to the wiper l4 for the cycle disc. If the wiper l4 for the cycle disc is in engagement with the inner contact surface 43, the circuit from there on is through the inner cycle contact 43 through the wiper contact 41 and conductors 40 and 23 to the other This will establish the above-described holding circuit for the relay 4 so that it will be maintained on until a change in circuit is effected. This change in circuit is effected by the rotation of the cycle disc 9 which will move to bring the outer contact area 44 into engagement with the wiper contact i 4. Under this condition, the circuit from the outer contact area 44 of the cycle disc will be through the wiper contact 56 and conductor 52 to the terminal 53 of the relay. This will shortcircuit the relay coil 26 and the holding" circuit therefor, allowing the relay contact 26 to move to ofi position in which the heat will be turned off.

Switch in "017" position When the switch n is turned to "011 position,

the contact I5 is electrically connected with the contact 56, and the relay coil 26 and its holding circuit area short-circuited by the circuit leading tact 36, breaking the circuit. The relay contact 26 thus remains in off position.

Program disc construction The program disc comprises a plurality of sector-like members, some of which are angular--' iy adjustable about the axis of the disc to change the length of the period of control exerted by one or more of the sector-like members. This program disc is shown in detail in Figs. to 16, inclusive. As shown, the disc 6 comprises four of these sectors 60, 6|, 62, and 63, each having a T conducting surfaceengageable with the wiper contact II. The "day-on contact area comprises two of these sectors 66 and 6|, electrically connected with each other, one of them (66) being secured to the insulating disc-like base 64 and the other (6|) being angularly adjustable about the axis of the disc to vary the day-on" period. These sectors are so mounted and arranged that the rear edge of one overlaps the front edge of the succeeding sector so that as the disc 6 rotates the wiper contact i3 will ride easily 01! from one sector into the succeeding sector. This overlapping engagement of the sectors also permits the angular adjustment of some of the sectors with respect to the others. Both of the day-on" sectors and Bi and also the night oi! sector 62 are provided with an annular portion embracing an'insuiating positioning and centering bushing 66, which fits over the end of the tubular shaft 61 on which the program disc is mounted. The sectors 66 and 63 are permanently secured to the insulating disc 64 which is mounted for rotative adjustment in a mounting ring 69. The assembly, including the disc 64 and the sectors 66, 6|, 52, and 63, are held in place by means of a retaining ring 10, secured to the mounting ring 69, and a thumb nut 1i threaded on the end of the shaft 61 and bearin on the bushing 66. The "heating-up-sector 63 is thus permanently secured to the circular insulating base 64, as is also the front sector 60 of the day-on contact surface. The other two sect0rs-that is to say, the rear sector iii of the ,day-on" contact area and the night-oft contact sector 62are both angularly adjustable to an extent limited by the overlapping engagement of the sectors, to change the positions of the insulating rear edges of these sectors 6| and 62, thus enabling a change to be effected both in the time of beginning the night-off period and in the time of the ending of the night-off" period. Conversely, this changing of the beginning and ending of the night-off period effects a change in the ending of the day-on period and in the beginning of the "heating-up period. The conducting surfaces of these sectors may be thin sheets of metal I2 (Fig. 14) backed up by thin sheets of insulation 13 to keep the sectors out 'of electrical engagement with each other. The

electrical connection between the two sectors of the day-on" contact surface is effected by the engagement of the annular portions 65 of one sector with another, no insulation being provided between these annular portions.

The heating-up contact area of the sector 63 is electrically connected with the inner conducting ring 32 by means of a rivet I5 extending through the sector 63, insulating base 64, and

annular conductor 32. The front sector 66 of the day-on contact surface is electrically connected with the intermediate conductor ring 35 by means of a rivet 'II extending through the "day-on" sector 66, insulating base 64, and conductor ring 35 (Figs. 11- and 14). The night- 'oif sector 62 is electrically connected with the contact ring 38.

The insulating base and contact sectors are mounted for rotative adjustment in the mounting ring 69 having an annular recess for receiv ing the edges of the sectors, the retaining ring ll having an inwardly-extending portion overlying the outer edges of the sectors for holding them in the annular recess. In order to provide a yielding support for the insulating disc 04 and the sectors carried thereby, a plurality of leaf springs 19 are provided, secured to the contact ring 38 and having their ends bearing on the inner surface of the insulating disc 04. These springs tend to hold the insulating disc I and the contact sectors carried thereby over against the retaining ring Ill and to provide a yielding spring'pressure of the edges of the contact sectors against the retaining ring II.

In order to prevent electrical connection between the day-ion" contact sector and the annular supporting rings, both of the day-on contact sectors 60 and ii are provided with arcuate insulating strips 80. The heating-up" contact sector also is provided with an arcuate insulating strip ll to prevent electrical connection between the effective contact area and the supporting rings 69 and 10. The rear edges of the day-on" contact sector 6i, the night-off" contact sector G2, and the heating-up contact sector I are 7 provided with insulating strips '2, respectively, to prevent the wiper contact II from simultaneous engagement with the conducting surface of one sector and the conducting surface of a succeeding sector.

Transmission to circuit-controlling discs The transmission from the drive pinion 83 (Fig. 6) of the synchronous motor to the program disc 8 comprises a spur gear 84 meshing with the motor pinion 83, a pinion 85 rotatable with this gear 84, a gear 86 meshing with this pinion II, a pinion 81 rotatable with this gear 86, a gear 88 meshing with this pinion 81, a pinion ll rotatable with this gear as, a gear so meshing with this pinion 89, a pinion 9i rotatable with this gear 90, and a gear 92 meshing with this pinion and having a slip friction drive connection ll with the tubular shaft 6'! (shown in Fig. 5) on which the program disc 8 is mounted. This slip friction drive comprises a leaf spring washer member 94 having three spring fingers yieldingly holding the gear 81 against a collar I! on the tubular shaft 61 and an adjusting nut 08 (Fig. 5) and lock nut 91 for holding the leaf spring washer in proper engagement with the gear.

The transmission from the synchronous motor to the cycledisc comprises a variable speed construction, as will be pointed out in detail. This motor pinion 83, the pinion ll rotatable with this gear 84, a gear 99 meshing with this pinion, a gear I00 meshing with the gear I, a pinion llll (Figs. 5, 6, and 'I) meshing with this gear III, a shaft it! on which this pinion is mounted, another pinion i03 mounted on this shaft, a gear I04 meshing with this pinion, and a gear I" meshing with this gear and molmted on the tubular shaft I 06 on which the cycle disc I is mounted.

In order to provide for the variable speed previously mentioned, the shaft I02, on which the two pinions Iii and I are mounted, is mounted on a swinging bracket Ill (Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7), which bracket may be periodically swims automatically to cause the twopinions Ill andv II! to diseng e temporarily with rwpect to the two gears Ill and I. Th3 bracket III is moimted for pivotal movement about a pivot post I" andisurgedinadirectiontoeifectmesbing ofthepinionswiththegearsbymeomofacoil and disengagement of the pinions with respect tothegearsiseifectedbymeans ofacamwheel ill mounted to rotate with the gear I and having a plurality of cam portions Ill engageable with a conical follower ion the shaft on which the pinions Ill and III are mounted.

In order to change the extent of meshing travel of the driving gear with respect to the driven gear, the cam wheel III is made adjustable up and down to bring its cam-like edge into engagement with varying peripheries of the conical follower I I2. The larger the diameter of the periphery of the conical follower which is engazed by the cam edge, the greater will be the throw of the cam and hence the longer the period of unmeshed travel of the driving gear with respect to the period of meshed travel. This axial shifting of the edge cam member is effected by means of a shifting yoke HI engageable between annular shoulders lil and Ill rotatable with the cam wheel I i0. I'he hub portion of the camwheel III is splined on the tubular shaft II which rotates with the driving gear. The movement of the shifting yoke is effected by means of a rotatable externally screw-threaded shaft I ll held against axial movement and having a threaded engagement with a sleeve I I! on which the shifting yoke H3 is mounted. With this construction, it will be seen that the period of meshing travel of the driving gear ill with respect to its period of unmeshed travel may be varied as desired and that the driven gear I and the cycle disc 8 rotated therewith may be intermittently driven, the driven periods being varied as desired with respect to the nondriven periods. The cam and gear reduction is so designed that the frequency of oscillation of the yoke Ill! carrying the disengageable idler pinions m and I" will be great enough to result in a relatively small motion of the cycle disc for each ouillation of the pinion-carrying frame. It has been found in practice that the intermittent motions of the cycle disc are so small that the effect on the circuit-controlling contacts is not materially different from the effect that would be obtained by an iniinitesimally variable speed The effect of continuous rotation may be approached by increasing the speed of transmission includes the gear .8 driven by the torsion spring ill. The periodic engagement rotation of cam 'wheel ill! and increasing the size of gears I and Ill. kthumb wheel Illa is secured to the shaft ill for operating it manualLv. This thumb wheel carries a dial lllb 00- operating with a pointer Ilse for indicating the adjustment ofthecamwheel Ill.

. Cycle disc Due to the counter-radial arrangement of "the edgesv of the conductor sectors of the control discs,achangeintheradialpositionofthe sector-engaging contacts I I and I4 will change the length of time during which a contact will remaininentwithagivensectorasthe sector moves imderneath the wiper contact. The greater the demand for heat, as determined by the manually and conditionally controlled cam ill, the closer will the wiper contacts II and II appreach the axes of the control discs I and I, resulting in a longer period of heat-on" with respect to the period of heat-off." carrying the wiper contact II for the cycle disc I ismountedonarockshaft III andisconnected with the pivoted arm II! of the wiper II for the programdiscbymeansofalink lllpivotnlly securedtothecontactarm III atillandpivot- Thearm I20,

phragm member I42, the

ally secured to the ,contactarm I22 at I23. The

contact arm I22 is pivotally moimted at I23.

In order to change the extent of movement of the cycle contact wiper I4 with respect to the extent of movement of the program contact wiper I3, I provide means for var i the distance between the axis of the rock pin IN and the pivotal connection of the link I23 with the contact arm I20. This adjustment is effected by providing a cylindrical portion of the contact arm slidable in an opening in the rock shaft and providing this cylindrical portion with a plurality of annular grooves I21 in any one of which a set screw I20 threaded into the rock shaft may be engaged. with this construction, the greater the distance between the axis of the rock shaft I2I and the point of pivotal connection I24 between the link I23.and contact arm I20, the less will be the movement of the contact wiper I4 with resiriect to a given movement of the contact wiper For varying the field of travel of the cycle disc .wiper I4, the leaf spring member I29 on which this wiper is mounted may be pivotally adjustable on the wiper carrying arm I20. This pivotal adjustment may be effected by means of a pivot screw I30 (Figs. 1 and 4) extending througha hole in the leaf spring I23 and threaded into the contact-carrying arm I20. This leaf spring member may be frictionally held in adjusted position by means of a headed screw I33 extending through a slot in the leaf spring member I20 and threaded into contact arm I20. The spacer washers I32 serve to electrically isolate the leaf spring member I29 from the contact-carrying arm I20 and spacer washers I32a serve to electrically isolate the contact wiper I3 from the contact arm I22;

Disc contact control The apparatus, controlled by conditions and manually for controlling the disc contacts I3 and I4, may be similar to that described in my copending application Serial No. 57,449, flied December 28, 1935. It comprises a double-acting cam member IIO mounted for. manual rotation and condition-controlled axial adjustment having an irregular conical surface engageable with a follower pin I34 mounted on a rock arm I35 (Figs. 1 and 5) secured to the rock shaft I33 on temperature. Conversely. a high willexpandthechamberl42,pushingthecam member down and causing the follower I34 to push the contact member I4 upwardly to shorten the length of the "on" periods and increase the length of the "of!" periods to take care of the higher outside temperature. However, as previously pointed out, the control by outside temperature is not sufficient to take care of other variations and conditions such as cloudiness, high wind, humidity, variation in building occupancy, etc., and a further manual control may be exercised by means of the adjustable hand wheel I which can be operated to swivel the phmger rod I31 and bring a different element of the conoidal surface into cooperative relation with respect to the follower. Various for the surface of this cam IIO may be employed. That shown in Figs. 18 and 19 comprises a generally conoidal surface I40, the intersections of which with different planes through the axis of the cam have different degrees of angularity with respect to the axis of the cam. Thus, in Fig. 18. the left-hand side of the conoidal surface shown has an angle of approximately degrees with respect to the axis of the cam, whereas the right-hand side of the conoidal surface has an angle with respect to the axis of the cam of approximately 20- degrees. The angularity of the intersection of the axial planes may be made to vary gradually fromthe greater to the lesser angle. Because of this construction, the radial distance of the follower I34 from the axis of the cam willbe changed as the plunger rod I31 is turned by means of the which the arm I22 for the program wiper contact is mounted.

This double-acting cam H0 is mounted on a shaft I31 which is rotatably and slidably mounted in brackets I30 and I33 on the base I43. The rotative adjustment of this cam II3 iseifected by means of a knurled hand wheel I mounted on the cam shaft I31. Theaxial adjustment is effected by means of a hollow expansible diaupper end of which is secured to a bracket I43 on a base I40 and the lower end of which seats in a cup-like member I44 with which the upper end of the cam shaft I31 has a swivel connection. This expansible diaphragm member acts against the pressure of a coil compression spring I45, the upper end of which engages a flange I40 on the cup member I44 and the lower end of which is supported by the bracket I30 on the base.

The design of the apparatus is such that as shown in Fig. l, a low temperature will cause a contraction of the expansible chamber I42, causing a rise in the conoidal cam member II9 to allow the follower member I34 to shift to the left under the. action of the torsion spring I41 hand wheel I, thus changing the position of the contact with respect to the drum. It will be seen that a change of radial distance will take place regardless of the vertical pomtion of the cam determined by the-thermostatic control but that the amount of change of said radial displacement for a given turning movement of the cam will increase as the outside temperature dec. It may also be seen that the rate of change of the radial distance for a given vertical movement will vary with the angular position of the cam.

By means of this manual control of the cam, an attendant can superimpose a manual control on the thermostatic control to take care of unusual conditions, such as high winds, cloudiness,

excessive humidity, increase in heating load, etc., which would cause a requirement for more heat than would be furnished under the normal op eration of the thermostatic control. If a condition exists calling for such additional heat supply, the attendant, by means of the hand wheel I, will rotate the plunger I31 and the cam IIO carried thereby to shift the cam to a position in which the radial distance of the follower I34 from the axis of the cam will be increased, thus shifting the contacts I3 upwardly, as

viewed in Fig. l, to decrease the length of the heat-on periodsand increase the length of the heat-oif periods. On the other hand, if conditions are such that less than the normal supply of heat is necessary-such as might be occasioned by a very sunshiny quiet day, or over a week end when a lower maintained temperature is desired-the attendant, by means of the hand wheel I, may rotate the cam 9 to a position which will decrease the radial distance of the follower I34 from the axis of them, resulting in a shift of the contact II downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 1, with a consequent increase in the heat supply. At the new angular positions of the cam, should there be a variation of temperature outdoors, the radial distance will be varied accordingly, with the rate of variance greater than normal in the first case and less than normal the second case.

The expansion and contraction of the expansible diaphragm I42 is controlled by a bulb connected with the expansible diaphragm by means of flexible tubing I49. This bulb may be placed in any desired location, generally where it will be exposed to outside temperature so that an increase in the temperature of the bulb will cause an expansion of the gas in the bulb and a consequent expansion of the expansible bellows I42, and vice versa.

In its extreme upward movement; the leaf spring I29 may carry the contact wiper I4 beyond the peripheral edge of the cycle disc. In order to steer the contact wiper I4 back into the cycle disc, a supporting finger I55 (Figs. 1 and 2 is provided which is engaged by the leaf spring I29 in its extreme upper movement so that when the leaf spring in its controlled movement moves back toward the cycle disc, this Base and wiring The different parts of- .the apparatus are mounted on the cast metal base I40, the rear portion of which forms a housing divided into a number of compartments in which various parts of the apparatus and wiring are located.

The program disc 8, cycle disc 9, associated contacts, control mechanism therefor, transformer 5, pilot light 5, and relay switch 4 are mounted on the front of this base. A suitable hinged cast metal cover (not shown) is provided for covering and enclosing the parts of the apparatus mounted on the front of the base. The synchronous motor 1, the manually operated switch II (Figs. 1 and 8), and part of the wiring therefor are mounted in a large lower compartment I5I (Figs. 8 and 9) in the rear of the base Plate. The resistor I 9 and the wiring terminals for the relay 4 are mounted in a compartment I52 above the large lower compartment. The line wires I53 lead into the small upper compartment I54 in the rear of the base and thence into a compartment I55 directly underneath this upper compartment I54. The wires I55 for the synchronous motor branch of! from the line wires in this compartment I55.

The wires I51 for the transformer branch oil in this compartment I55 and lead to the. terminals of the primary I58 of the transformer 5. The conductors I, 2, and 3 controlled by the relay 4 lead into a small compartment I59 at the side of the base.

In preparing the apparatus for shipment, the protective insulating connectors I" for the ends of the wires I, 2, and 3 may be pushed into th compartment ISI at the upper end of the insu- Iating base, which compartment I6I acts as an outlet box. The compartments are separated from each other by means of suitable walls or webs formed integrally with the base casting. The lower large compartment III is provided with a large opening I52 into which extends a pair of lugs- I63 on which the base I54 carrying the synchronous motor 1 and the transmission from the motor 1 to the cycle disc and program disc are mounted. v

The switch II (Figs. 1, 8, and 17) is provided with a thumb wheel I mounted on the shaft I55 on which the movable switch contact I61 is mounted. This movable contact comprises an annular conductor portion I" always in wiping engagement with the contact and a projecting finger portion I58 selectively engageable with any one of the switch contacts I5, 20, 55, and 55.

In Fig. 20 I have shown apparatus designed to .provide an additional control for the heat supply, including a weekly program disc I10. With this apparatus, in addition to the control exercised by the cycle disc I and daily program disc I, I have provided a weekly program disc I10 whereby heat may be turned off during a substantial period at the end of the week-for instance, from Saturday noon until early Monday morning-and .whereby a Monday morning heating-up period is provided whereby heat may be turned on for a substantial period at the beginning of the week in order to bring up the temperature of the heated spaces to the desired level following the "week-end heat-01f" period. During the greater part of the weekthat is, from the end of the Monday morning heatingup'? period until the beginning of the "week-end heat off" period-the weekly program disc places the control ofthe heat supply under the daily program disc I and the cycle disc 9.

In this construction and diagram, the parts or elements 8, 5, l8, I4, I5, I, 2|, 22, 29a, 30a, Ila, 32-42, incl., 46, 41, 4!, 50, 52, 54, 55, 55, 51, I25, I55, and I59 may be the same as shown in Fig. 17. In this connection itis to be noted that when the conductor 40 is connected with the switch contact I55, the heat supply will be "on and that when the conductor 52 is electrically connected with the switch contact I69, the heat supply will 'be "01! just as in the construc- 4 tion and circuit shown in Fig. 1'1. With this understanding, it will be seen that when the switch contact I59 is set to engage the respective contacts I5, 250, 55, and 55, respectively, the circuits and controls will be the same as when the corresponding connections are made in Fig. 17. In Fig, 20, however, an additional switch contact I1I is provided which places the weekly program disc I15 in control. This weekly program disc may, in its general structure, be similar to the daily program disc 8. It comprises three sector-shaped contact faces electrically insulated from each other, including a week-end off sector I12, the extent of which is defined by the arc I13, a "Monday morning heating-up" sector I14, the length of which is defined by the arc I15, and a daily program operation" sector I18, the length of which is defined by the are I11. The sector I12 is electrically connected with a contact ring I18 which is engaged bya wiper contact I19electrica1ly connected through the conductor I84 with the conductors 54 and 52. The contact sector I14 is electrically connected with a contact ring III engaged by wiper contact I82 which is electrically connected through the conductor I" with the conductor 40. The

contact sector I1! is electrically connected with a contact ring I which is engaged by wiper contact Ill electrically connected by a conductor III with the conductor a. Both in Figs. 17 and 20, the shiftable contact arms I! and I4 are mechanically connected together by means of the link I23 so that movement of the contact arm I3 will also cause movement of the contact arm I4, thus bringing both contact arms under the control of the control cam I2. In Fig. 20, the shiftable contact arm I81 also is connected with the contact arm I3 by means of a link I88 50 that movement of the contact arm I3 will cause a corresponding movement of the contact arm I81 which engages the contact surfaces I12, I14,

and I18 of the weekly program disc I10. This will enable the outside temperature control means I2 to exert an influence on the time element in the weekly program disc I10, since the sectors I12, I14, and I16 are so shaped and designed that the angular extent of the sectors varies with the distance from the axis of the disc I10.

With this construction, it will be seen that when the contact arm I69 is in engagement with the contact I1I, so long asth'e shlftable contact I81 is in engagement with the daily program operation sector I18, the contact arm I69 will be electrically connected with the switch contact 29a through the conductor I89, contact arm I81, contact sector I18, contact ring I04, wiper contact I85, and conductor I88 and that therefore during this period the daily program disc and the cycle disc will exercise control Just as in the circuit shown in Fig. 1'1. However, when the weekly program disc moves counterclockwise to bring the fweek-end ofl sector I12 into engagement with the shiftable contact I81, the

heat will be turned off, since the conductor 52 will be electrically connected with the contact I89 through the conductor I89, shiftable contact arm I81, sector contact I12, conductor ring I18, wiper contact I19, conductor I80, and conductor 54. When the weekly program disc I moves still further counterclockwise to bring the Monday morning heating-up contact sec-' tor I14 into engagement with the shiftable contact I81,'the heat will be turned on regardless of the positions of the daily program disc 8 and the cycle disc 9, since the conductor is then electrically connected with the switch contact I69 through the conductor -I89, shiftable contact I81, Monday morning heating-up" sector I10, contact ring I8I, wiper contact I82, and conductor I83. In the weekly program disc I10, the extent of the sector I18 may, if desired, be made adjustable or variable just as the day-on" sector of the daily program disc 8 is made adjustable. By means of this adjustment, the heat may' be cut oil! at any time desired toward the end of the week; that is to say, it may, for example, be cut off at noon Saturday, or later. The Monday morning heating-up sector may be designed so as to give any desired length of time for the Monday morning heating-up period, the length of this "heating-up period of course being varied by the control exercised by outside temperature on the shiftable contact.

It is obvious that a control disc might be designed which would nothave contact surfaces but in place thereof could have embossed surfaces engageable by a pivoted rider which would control the making of a contact.

Referring to the cycle disc, the daily program disc, and the weekly program disc, it is obvious that any one of these three discs could be used without either of the others. For example,.the .cycle disc could be used without either of the program discs to provide intermittent shots of heat rather than a continuous uninterrup ed supply of heat, as the periodic shots have advantages over the continuous supply of heat. Also, either one of the program discs could be used day control and one for night control, or a single day-night thermostat might be placed in the\ spaces to be heated and the program disc so wired as to bring the daytime thermostat into play when the "day-on segment of the program disc is in the circuit and to bring the "low thermostat into play when the night-off" segment of the control disc is in control and to throw both thermostats out of control, producing a continuous flow of heat when the morning "heating-up segment of the program disc is in control.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is desired, therefore, that the invention be limited only by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A circuit controller comprising a rotatable member rotatable about its axis and including a plurality of sector-like members havinz accessible conducting surfaces, and a wiper contact movable toward and from said axis for successively engaging said surfaces, the rear edge of at least one sector-like member overlapping the succeeding sector-like member, the rear edge of at least one sector-like member being a surface of insulating material to prevent simultaneous engagement of the wiper with the conducting surfaces of two adjacent sector-like members.

2. A circuit controller comprising a rotatable member rotatable about its axis and including a plurality of sector-like members having accessible conducting surfaces, and a wiper contact movable toward and from said axis for successively engaging said surfaces, the rear edge of at least one sector-like member overlapping the succeedmg sector-like member, at least one of said sectorlike members being angularly adjustable with respect to another about the axis of said rotatable member.

3. A circuit controller comprising a rotatable member rotatable about its axis and including a plurality of sector-like members having accessible conducting surfaces, and a wiper contact movable toward and from said axis for successively'engaging said surfaces, the rear edge of each of said sector-like members overlapping a succeeding sector-like member. f 4. A circuit controller comprising a rotatable member rotatable about its axis and including a plurality of sector-like members having accessible conducting surfaces forsuccessively engaging a wiper contact, the rear edge of at least one sector-like member overlapping the succeeding 'sector-likemember, said sector-like members being rotatably mounted in an annular support embracing the outer arcuate edges of said sectorlike members.

5. A circuit controller comprising a rotatable member rotatable about its axis and including a plurality of sector-like members having accessible conducting surfaces for successively engaging a wiper contact, the rear edge of at least one sector-like member overlapping the succeeding sector-like member, said sector-like members being rotatably mounted in an annular support embracing the outer arcuate edges of said sectorlike members, said support having an annular conducting surface engageable with a wiper and electrically connected with one of said sector-like members. v

6. A circuit controller comprising a rotatable member having electrical conducting surfaces thereon, a contact engageable with said surfaces as the member rotates, a motor for driving said rotatable member, and variable speed transmission between said motor and rotatable member including a ,driving gear, a driven -gear, power means for meshing and unmeshing said gears periodically, and means for varying the extent of meshed travel of said driving gear with respect to its unmeshed travel.

7. A circuit controller comprising a rotatable member having electrical conducting surfaces thereon, a contact engageable with said surfaces as the member rotates, a motor for driving said rotatable member, and variable speed transmission between said motor and rotatable member including a driving gear, a driven gear, and power means for periodically shifting the axis of one of said gears to mesh and unmesh said gears.

8. A circuit controller comprising a rotatable member having electrical conducting surfaces thereon, a contact engageable with said surfaces as the member rotates, a motor for driving said rotatable member, and variable speed transmission between said motor and rotatable member including a driving gear, a driven gear, power means comprising a rotatable cam for meshing and unmeshing said gears periodically, and means for varying the extent of meshed travel of the driving gear with respect to its unmeshed travel comprising means for varying the throw of said cam.

9. A circuit controller comprising a rotatable member having a, contact surface, a contact engageable with the surface of said rotatable member, a motor for driving said rotatable" member, and variable speed transmission between said motor and rotatable member, including a driving gear, a driven gear, and power means for meshing and unmeshing said gears periodically.

10. A circuit controller comprising a rotatable member having a contact surface, a contact enageable with the surface of said rotatable member, a motor for driving said rotatable member, and variable speed transmission between said motor and rotatable member, including a driving gear, a driven gear, power means for meshing and unmeshing said gears periodically, and means for varying the extent of meshed travel of said driving gear with respect to its unmeshed travel.

11. Apparatus for controlling a circuit comprising a rotatable member having a control surface, a rider engageable with said surface for controlling the circuit, a motor for driving said rotatable member, and variable speed transmission between said motor and rotatable member, including a driving gear, a driven gear, and power means for meshing and unmeshing said gears periodically.

12. Apparatus for controlling a circuit comprising a rotatable member having a control surface, a rider engageable with said surface for controlling the circuit, a motor for driving said rotatable member, and variable speed transmission between said motor and rotatable member,

periodically, and means for varying the extent of meshed travel of said driving gear with respect to its unmeshed travel.

13. A circuit controller comprising a rotor having a sector-like conducting surface, the arcuate angular extent of which varies with its distance from the axis of the rotor, a contact for engaging said surface as it rotates movable to vary its distance from said axis, a continuou annular band of conducting material carried by said rotor and electrically connected with said sector-like conducting surface, and a wiper contact engaging said annular band.

14. A circuit controller comprising a rotor including a plurality of sector-like members, each having a conducting surface, said members being angularly adjustable relative to each other about the axis of the rotor, the arcuate angular extent of the exposed conducting surface varying with its distance from the axis of the rotor. and a contact for engaging said, conducting surface movable to vary its distance from said axis.

15. Apparatus for controlling the flow of a control medium comprisinga first time controlled rotor having control surfaces thereon, a rider dispoud for successive engagement by said surfaces as said rotor rotates for controlling the flow of said medium in accordance with said succossive engagement, a. second time-controlled rotor having control surfaces thereon, a second rider disposed for successive engagement by the control surfaces of said second rotor for controlling the flow of said medium in accordance with said successive engagement, and means for adjusting the speed ratio of one rotor with respect to the other.

.16. Apparatus for controlling the flow of a control medium comprising a first time controlled rotor having control surfaces thereon, a rider disposed for successive engagement by said surfaces as said rotor rotates for controlling the flow of said medium in accordance with said successive engagement, a second time-controlled rotor having control surfaces thereon, a second rider disposed for successive engagement by the control surfaces 'of said second rotor for controlling the' flow of said medium in accordance with said successive engagement, and means for adlusting the position of both riders with respect to their associated rotors.

1'7. Apparatus for controlling the flow of a control medium comprising a first time controlled rotor having control surfaces thereon, a rider disposed for successive engagement by said surfaces as said rotor rotates for controlling the flow of said medium in'accordance with said successive engagement, a second time-controlled rotor having control surfaces thereon, a second rider disposed for successive engagement by the control surfaces of said second rotor for controlling the flow of said medium in accordance with said succesive engagement, means for adjusting the speed ratio of one rotor with respect to the other, and means for adjusting the position of both riders with respect to their associated rotors.

18. A circuit control apparatus comprising a rotor, a circuit opening and closing member mounted for movement with respect to said rotor, and means for moving said member, said rotor including a series of circularly-arranged portions angularlydisplaced with respect to each other cooperating with said circuit controlling memher, the angular extent of cooperation with said member varying as said member is moved whereby the time interval between an opening and closing of the circuit varies with the-movement of said member, the means formoving said member comprising an actuating member and selec- I tive-speed transmission means acting betweensaid actuating member and circuit controlling member including readily adjustable, manually settable, selective means for selecting any one of a plurality of diflerent speed ratios.

19. A circuit control apparatus comprising a rotor, a circuit opening and closing member mounted for movement with respectto said rotor, and means for moving saidmember, said rotor including a series of circularly-arranged por-, tions angularly displaced with respect to each other cooperating with saidcircuit controlling member, the angular extent of cooperation with said member varying'as said member is moved whereby the time interval between an opening and closing of the circuit varies'with the movement of said. member, the means formoving said member comprising an actuating member an'dselective-speedtransmission means acting between said actuating member and circuit controlling member including a cam follower, a diverse contour cam, means for shifting said-cam throughouta range, and readily adjustable, man

uallysettable, selective means for selecting any 'one of a. plurality of diglerent cam contours for engagement with said follower throughout the range of cam movement.

20. A circuit control apparatus comprising a rotor, a circuit opening and closing member mounted for movement with respect to said rotor, and 'means for moving said member, said rotor including means whereby said movement =varies the time, interval-between opening and closing the circuit, the means for moving said member comprising an actuating member and selectivespeed transmission means acting between said actuating member and circuit controllingmember including readily adjustable, manually settable, selective means for selecting any one of a plurality of difierent speed ratios.

21. A circuit control apparatuscomprising a rotor, a circuit opening and closing member mounted for movement with respect to said rotor,

' and means for moving said member, said rotor including means whereby said movement varies the time interval between opening and closing with said follower throughout the range of cam movement.

22. Circuit .control apparatus comprising 'chronometric' means for periodically opening and closing a circuit, power'controlled means for varying the length of said open and closed periods, chronometric means for periodically rendering said first means alternatively efl'ective and ineifective to open and close the circuit, and

power controlled means for varying the length of said-efiective and ineflective periods.

, HENRY T. KOCEItA.- 

